ESPN The Magazine highlighted the results of the analysis in its April 29 edition, the NFL draft issue.

The metric is called approximate value (AV), which aims to measure a player's value within a given season or career. Once a player's AV has been established, a surplus AV can be assigned, which means a player's expected value in a draft slot can be compared to his actual value.

So a player like Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, taken 199th in 2000 draft, brings the average surplus AV for New England way up, while high picks who were busts bring it down.

The Packers have the highest surplus AV of any team in the league using this formula, 45.7. Since 1994, Green Bay has drafted 22 Pro Bowl players, "despite averaging the second-lowest first-round slot in the NFL."

The best-drafting teams in the NFL and their average surplus AV since '94:

1. Packers +45.7

2. Steelers +45.3

3. Colts +42.2

4. Ravens +39.9

5. Patriots +28.6

And the worst-drafting teams:

32. Browns -28.3

31. Lions -23.9

30. Raiders -9.7

29. Saints -7.0

28. Redskins -4.4

About Bob Wolfley

Bob Wolfley retired in October 2014 He wrote the SportsDay blog and column and about TV and radio issues.